travesty
C1Formal / Literary
Definition
Meaning
A grotesque or ridiculous imitation; a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something.
Something so outrageously inferior that it mocks the original or ideal; an act, situation, or outcome that is shockingly unjust or unfair, especially in a legal or moral context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly pejorative. Implies not just imitation but a debasement or mockery of the original's character or dignity. Often used in contexts of justice, art, and performance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally strong negative connotation of distortion and injustice.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English in journalistic contexts, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
BE a travestyBE a travesty of [sth]CONSIDER [sth] a travestyREGARD AS a travestyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a travesty of justice”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could describe a grossly unfair contract or a sham bidding process.
Academic
Used in literary criticism (a travesty of the original text) and legal/political discourse (a travesty of democracy).
Everyday
Common in strong opinion about unfair situations ("The verdict was a travesty!").
Technical
Not technical. Used in its standard sense in legal commentary.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The director's modern adaptation utterly travesties the spirit of the classic novel.
- To travesty the legal process in such a way is unforgivable.
American English
- The film travesties the historical events it claims to portray.
- They accused the media of travestying the candidate's platform.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- The show was a travesty version of the original satire.
- (Rare; 'travesty' as attributive noun is more common: 'a travesty trial')
American English
- (Rare; typically used as a noun)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not typically introduced at this level)
- The children's play was a funny travesty of a famous movie.
- Many fans said the film was a travesty of the book.
- The trial was widely condemned as a travesty of justice.
- His version of events is a complete travesty of the truth.
- The new policy makes a travesty of the government's earlier promises of transparency.
- To call that performance 'opera' is to travesty a great art form.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: TRAVesty of JUSTice. The word contains 'TRAV' - imagine a TRAVeLLING circus that performs a ridiculous, distorted version of a serious play.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE/TRUTH IS A PURE FORM > A TRAVESTY IS A GROTESQUE DISTORTION OF THAT FORM.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'травести' (the theatrical term for a male role played by a woman). The Russian word 'пародия' (parody) is weaker; 'издевательство' or 'профанация' are closer in strength.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with 'tragedy' (a sad event). A travesty is specifically a mockery, not just a misfortune.
- Using it as a synonym for 'disappointment' (which is less severe).
- Misspelling as 'travestey'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'travesty' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 'tragedy' is a disastrous or terribly sad event. A 'travesty' is a distorted, ridiculous, or unjust imitation or outcome. An event can be both (e.g., an unfair trial resulting in an innocent person's imprisonment).
Yes, though less common. It means 'to represent in a grotesquely inferior or ridiculous way' (e.g., 'The article travestied his views').
'A travesty of justice' is by far the most fixed and frequent collocation, used to describe a legal process or outcome that is grossly unfair.
It is more formal and literary than words like 'sham' or 'mockery', but it is commonly used in passionate, critical discourse in news and everyday language when discussing serious injustices.
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C2 · 50 words · Technical terms for advanced literary analysis.
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